Saturday, February 14, 2009

Because of their moral ambiguity, misdemeanors codes and other similar regulations are often used by the police in many parts of Latin America to persecute, abuse and arrest people whose sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression deviates from social norms. Such discrimination occurs despite the fact that it constitutes a human rights violation and often contravenes the provisions of a country's constitution. In the city of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Article 40, Section XIV of the misdemeanors code stipulates that immorality includes "public practices that indicate the development of an abnormal sexual life." This has enabled various types of police abuse, such as the arrests of gay men and lesbians for simple acts of affection, like holding each other’s hands. Thanks to the hard work of local organizations and individual activists, including some who have been victimized by the misdemeanors code themselves, there is now an initiative to repeal Article 40, Section XIV. Ramón Aguirre Joya, the President of the Regulations Commission in Puerto Vallata, has committed to raise the proposal to repeal Article 40, Section XIV before the full city council in February 2009. If this occurs, the council should discuss the proposal and vote to repeal the regulation.

IGLHRC requests that you send emails asking the President of the Regulations Commission in Puerto Vallata to raise a proposal to repeal Article 40, Section XIV of the misdemeanors code to the city council and fully support the regulation’s repeal.